9 out of 10 tourism incidents are involving the illegal operators, says minister

Pictures courtesy of Underwater Illusion

KOTA KINABALU: The thriving tourism industry in Sabah, renowned for its beautiful destinations and diverse activities, is facing a significant challenge due to the rise of illegal tour operators. Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Christina Liew has expressed serious concerns about the increasing number of accidents involving tourists, often attributed to unlicensed operators. "Every kind of sport, whether at sea or the sky, has regulations. However, many so-called operators are illegal, operating without proper license. "Nine out of ten times, accidents occur because tourists engage illegal operators. We need to find a way to stop this. “Whenever an accident happens, it falls back on us, and we are seen as not protecting our tourists." She said that these illegal operators often attract tourists by offering lower charges, leading to unsuspecting visitors booking online and engaging them without realising the lack of proper guidelines and procedures. "We need to study together what will be the best approach. Illegal operators are a significant problem, and we need to handle it effectively.” In severe cases, legal actions against unlicensed operators are being considered. To tackle this problem, Liew is convening a meeting with all relevant department heads, including those from Sabah Parks, Sabah Wildlife department, and other departments under her ministry. To ensure the enforcement of these regulations, the meeting will also involve police authorities. “The meeting aims to formulate a proper SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) to address the causes of frequent accidents and establish a robust strategy to mitigate them. "We're trying to find out why so many accidents happen and how we can minimise them moving forward.” She added one of the measures under consideration is the implementation of a helpline for tourists in distress. Liew also highlighted the need for specific guidelines for high-risk activities, particularly for older tourists. "There was a recent case where a 64-year-old tourist was involved in paragliding. We need to set guidelines for age limits on such high-risk activities."